Berberine improves glucogenesis and lipid metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Zhao Li, et al.
BMC endocrine disorders, 2017

Abstract

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered a critical hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Berberine (BBR) exerts anti-hyperglycemic and anti-dyslipidemic effects and can also ameliorate NAFLD. Thus, BBR might exert its therapeutic effect on NAFLD by improving glucolipid metabolism. Here, we investigated the aspects and extent to which glucolipid metabolism were affected by BBR in rats with NAFLD.

Methods

Three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were studied: a control group (n = 6) fed a normal chow diet and a NAFLD group (n = 6) and a NAFLD + BBR group (n = 6) fed a high-fat diet. Normal saline and BBR (150 mg/kg body weight/day for 16 weeks) were administered by gavage. All rats were infused with isotope tracers. The rates of glucose appearance (Raglu), gluconeogenesis (GNG) and glycerol appearance (Ragly) were assessed with 2H and 13C tracers, whereas the rates of hepatic lipogenesis and fatty acid β oxidation were measured using the 3H tracer.

Results

When the NAFLD model was successfully induced by administering a high-fat diet, body weight, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia were significantly increased. After the BBR treatment, weight loss, decreased lipid profiles and HOMA-IR, and increased ISI were observed. Meanwhile, BBR reduced Raglu, GNG and hepatic lipogenesis, whereas the rate of fatty acid β oxidation in skeletal muscle showed an increasing trend. Ragly showed a decreasing trend. Based on the results of the histological analysis, BBR obviously attenuated the ectopic liver fat accumulation.

Conclusions

BBR improved NAFLD by inhibiting glucogenesis and comprehensively regulating lipid metabolism, and its effect on inhibiting hepatic lipogenesis was much stronger. The improvement may be partly mediated by weight loss. Berberine might be a good choice for patients with NAFLD and glucose metabolic disorder. Future clinical trials need to be conducted to confirm these effects.

Keywords

Berberine; Glucose and lipid metabolism; Isotope tracer; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

PMID:28241817
PMCID (Free PMC Article):PMC5329945
DOI:10.1186/s12902-017-0165-7
Category:Healthy Liver Support

The best supplements with Berberine in Healthy Liver Support category:

  • Detoxyn - Most of the human population are carriers of at least one parasite. It contains among others: Berberine.

Articles similar to "Berberine improves glucogenesis and lipid metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease."

  • The role of Berberine in Healthy Liver Support: Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. (Objectives: A randomized, parallel controlled, open-label clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of a botanic compound berberine (BBR) on NAFLD... BBR ameliorates NAFLD and related metabolic disorders. The therapeutic effect of BBR on NAFLD may involve a direct regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00633282. )

Previous article

Therapeutic effect of berberine on metabolic diseases: Both pharmacological data and clinical evidence.

Next article

Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.